BARRE — A Worcester man is facing a felony domestic assault charge after police say he stabbed someone in the back in an argument over doughnuts.

Gregory G. Rainville Jr., 27, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Chittenden County criminal court in Burlington to felony aggravated domestic assault with a weapon and violating his conditions of release. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15½ years in prison and a $26,000 fine.

According to the Vermont State Police affidavit, troopers were called to a fight between Rainville and another man on Elmore Road in Worcester late Monday. While police were en route, according to the affidavit, the two men had separated and tensions had eased, but then state police received a 911 call from someone saying the man had been stabbed in the back by Rainville.

Upon arrival, state police located Rainville and took him into custody, they said.

The stabbing victim told police an argument started when Rainville took two doughnuts that he didn’t have permission to take. The man told state police that Rainville tried to strike him and a fight ensued. Things calmed down and Rainville went to his room, the man said, but after the man went outside, Rainville came outside and started chasing him.

The man said he ran to a neighbor’s house to try to get help and when he tripped over a snowbank, Rainville stabbed him in the back.

The victim told state police he and Rainville had been sharing the residence for around eight or nine months.

State police say the victim was taken to Central Vermont Medical Center, where a folding knife with a 2-inch blade was removed from his back. Police say the knife was in a vital area of the man’s back — lodged between two ribs and close to hitting his spine, lung and shoulder blade. State police say the victim was treated and released.

Police say Rainville gave a similar story as the injured man. Rainville told state police the argument started in his room and moved to the kitchen. He told state police the other man was calling him names and continued to do so outside, so Rainville went out to confront him.

State police say Rainville admitted stabbing the man and told them he then returned to his room to change his shirt and sweatshirt because they’d become covered in snow and dirt from being on the ground.

In court Tuesday, Rainville was ordered held until he could be released to a responsible adult.

State police say Rainville violated conditions that he not buy, have or use any firearms or dangerous or deadly weapons. Police did not say why he had been previously released on conditions.

Rainville has convictions of disorderly conduct in 2011, petit larceny in 2007 and 2005, unlawful mischief in 2007, unlawful trespass in 2007, attempted simple assault in 2006 and simple assault in 2005 and 2004.